South Carolina women's soccer earns dominant win over East Carolina in 1st round of 2024 NCAA Tournament
A lot can happen over the course of a 90-minute soccer match. But in many cases, one play (or string of plays) can give a team the momentum boost it needs to lead it to victory.
30 minutes into South Carolina’s first-round NCAA Tournament match against East Carolina, both teams were scoreless. But the Gamecocks would soon grab the lead and not let go of it in a 6-0 win over the Pirates Friday night at Stone Stadium.
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The match started in a similar fashion as every one of South Carolina’s 2024 postseason matches before it – with methodical play from both sides, which maintained possession of the ball near midfield.
The Gamecocks emerged on the front foot offensively early in the first half. South Carolina earned its first corner kick in the seventh minute, and it’s first shot on target came four minutes later. Catherine Barry directed an effort towards goal, but it was saved by Pirates goalkeeper Maeve English.
East Carolina’s players then quickly ran across the field the field and created the team’s most dangerous scoring opportunity of the first half. Midfielder Samantha Moxie created space for herself outside the Gamecocks’ 18-yard box and curled a shot that crossed the face of goal but moved just wide of the right post.
That would be the Pirates’ lone shot of the first half. South Carolina’s defensive line held firm over the course of the opening 45 minutes, and the team as a whole maintained possession of the ball. Because of this, East Carolina generated its offensive attacks against the run of play.
The Gamecocks continued piling pressure on the Pirates’ defense as the half went along. Shots from Brianna Behm, Corinna Zullo and Katie Shea Collins did not find their marks.
But in the 31st minute, the Gamecocks finally found their breakthrough – times two.
Gracie Falla possessed the ball well in her defensive half of the field. Seeing Collins streak down the field, Falla launched a long ball in her direction. Collins ran past her mark and took one touch to control the ball before firing it past a diving English into the back of the net to give South Carolina a 1-0 lead.
The Gamecocks second goal of the match would come second later. On the team’s next offensive attack, Barry’s jersey was pulled by an East Carolina defender. This tugging carried into the penalty area, where Barry went down, prompting the referee to point towards the penalty spot.
The call proceeded to go under video review, but the referee upheld her previous call. Barry stepped up to take the kick and buried it to double South Carolina’s lead. The goal was Barry’s 17th of the season and fourth since the start of the SEC Tournament.
Her strike proved to be an important goal in the history of Gamecock women’s soccer – it was the 50th of Barry’s career, which tied an all-time program record. It also happened in Barry’s 100th appearance for South Carolina.
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Heading into Friday night, Jennie Ondo, who played for the Gamecocks from 1996 to 1999, was the sole player at the top of the program’s goal-scoring leaderboard. Ondo and Barry would not share this distinction for long.
In the 55th minute, Collins attempted to find Barry’s foot with a through ball, but it was cleared by a Pirates defender. The clearance deflected off the foot of Cuyler Zulauf and back into the direction of Barry. Barry, then poked the ball with her left foot through two defenders and English into the back of the net. The Gamecocks led 3-0, and history was made.
South Carolina’s scoring efforts did not end there. Around 90 seconds later, Hallie Meadows launched another long ball forward. Zullo, running down the right sideline, then hit a first-time cross into the six-yard box. Collins crashed into the goal area and fired the ball into the back of the net, putting the Gamecocks up 4-0.
Despite the deficit, East Carolina found a source of momentum in the 62nd minute. Reagan Schubach stepped up to take a penalty kick after a South Carolina player earned a foul in the box. Schubach offered a well-delivered strike, but English made a diving save to her right.
English’s penalty save was not enough to help the Pirates mount a comeback, though. East Carolina recorded just two shots – none of which were on goal – in the contest.
South Carolina put the cherry on top of a sweet night with two more goals later in the match.
In the 76th minute, Barry lofted a looping cross into East Carolina’s goal area that English could not take care of it. Collins capitalized on the goalkeeper’s mistake with a strong header to make it 5-0. With the goal, Collins recorded her second hat trick of the season.
South Carolina then earned another penalty in the 82nd minute. Taylor Fox, the Gamecocks’ graduate student goalkeeper who was substituted into the match less than one minute earlier, stepped up to take the ensuing penalty kick. Fox’s strike found the back of the net, building the team’s lead to six goals.
Next up
With the victory, South Carolina will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks will take on the winner of No. 6 seed Minnesota and South Dakota State. The date, time and location of the match will be announced at a later date.
